Speaking. A Triangle Exercise

Activity title:

Long turn;

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Skill(s):

Speaking individually for an extended period of time, ability to hold a conversation, fluency, critical thinking, collaborative work

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Level(s):

B1-B2

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Exam part:

Speaking

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Aim(s):

To reach fluency in individual speech;

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Materials needed:

Tiktok platform, Instagram platform, interactive board/whiteboard/online board; students' mobile phones

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Preparation:

Before the lesson, a teacher, using a board, draws a scheme - triangle (appendix 1).

On the 1^st stage, the teacher writes down all the necessary collocations\phrases\samples of language\patterns according to the topic.

On the 2^nd stage, the teacher writes down linkers/connectors/linking phrases/ functional language.

On the 3^rd stage, the teacher chooses an appropriate Tiktiok video/Instagram photos.

On the 4^th stage, the teacher shows/draws Euler diagram.

On the 5^th stage, the teacher reveфls the main question in the part 2 "Long Turn".

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Procedure:

Step 1. Lead - in.
Show the 1st stage of a triangle, the above part is hidden. If it is needed, read aloud the given words.
Encourage students to speculate on the topic of given samples of language. Elicit the difference between the topics.

Step 2. Show the 2nd stage, the above part is hidden. Put student in pairs/groups or alone and ask them to make up as many sentences as it possible, using words from the 1st stage and linkers/ connectors. Encourage to produce them aloud. For advanced students use a timer.

Step 3. Display the Tiktok video/ Instagram photos and ask students to apply their sentences/ collocations/ samples of language and linkers/connectors to the shown video/photos. Students could be ask to find such materials themselves on the lesson or in advance as a homework. For advanced students use a timer.

Step 4. With the help of Euler diagram elicit the similarities and differences between given videos/photos. Inspire students to justify their ideas. For advanced students use a timer.

Step 5. Revel the main question of the "Long Turn" task. Ask students to apply their derived ideas and samples of language from the previous stages to produce an individual continuous fluent speech. For advanced student use a timer.

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Variation(s)

• The task could be adjusted to the part 3 "Collaborative task".
• Each of the step could be adopted to the level of students.
• The task could be adjusted to use in pairs, groups or individually.

One of the possible variation:

Step 1. Lead - in.
Show the 1st stage of a triangle, the above part is hidden. If it is needed, read aloud the given words.
Encourage students to speculate on the topic of given samples of language. Elicit the difference between the topics. Organize a class in groups/pairs in order to categorize the given words patterns into two topics and ask them to prove their choice.

Step 2. Show the 2nd stage, the above part is hidden. Put student in pairs/groups and ask them to make up as many sentences as it possible, using words from the 1 stage and linkers/ connectors. The first group should use functional language of adding the information. The 2nd group should use functional language of contradiction. The 3rd group should apply functional language of agreeing etc.
Encourage to produce them aloud. For advanced students use a timer.

Step 3. Ask students to find appropriate Tiktok videos/ Instagram photos to apply their sentences/ collocations/ samples of language and linkers/connectors from the previous stages. Combine students from different groups to make pairs. Encourage them to use obtained knowledge and samples of collaborative language to produce a conversation.
This step could also be given as a homework for the next lesson, for example,

• to record yourselves (for individual work);
• to produce voice message chat for a pair work;
• like a challenge to the group to find appropriate photos/ videos of your own in TikTok/Instagram/Facebook etc. platforms and describe them (record), using given samples of speech, connectors/linkers to share with the groupmates and the teacher.
• like a challenge to the group to find appropriate photos/ videos of your own in TikTok/Instagram/Facebook etc. platforms and using given samples of speech, connectors/linkers to give the task to a person.

Step 4. Put students into two groups, for example, pros and cons to use language of negotiating. Encourage student taking turns express their ideas of the similarities and differences between given videos/photos with the help of Euler diagram. Ask students to justify their ideas

Step 5. Inspire students to apply their derived ideas, samples of language, collaborative speech from the previous stages to hold a continuous fluent conversation. Ask them to record themselves and after listening their recording give a feedback.

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Reflections

The results of the task such as difficulties and achievements could be derived from the table below to optimize the exercises itself and contribute to improving students' speaking skills.

• + completed successfully
• +\- had difficulties with…
• - failed to manage